Egypt possesses 30 natural reserves on 15% of its land area: Environment Minister
File- Egypt has recorded flocks of white storks in the natural reserves of South Sinai- press photo
CAIRO – 22 May 2025: On the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on May 22, Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stated that Egypt has 30 natural reserves covering 15 percent of its land area.
Fouad pointed out that 13 of these have been developed for ecotourism, offering activities such as diving and mountaineering.
In comments to Extra News, the minister added that Egypt has taken serious steps toward preserving biodiversity, which means maintaining the natural balance between land, sea, plants, and living organisms.
The minister said that some Egyptian reserves, such as Wadi El-Hitan and Ras Mohammed, have joined the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
Egypt plays a leading role in implementing the international agreement to increase the percentage of protected areas globally to 30 percent by 2030, which is consistent with Egypt's recently launched National Biodiversity Plan, Minister Fouad continued.
International Cooperation on Biosphere Protection
On May 14, 2025, Fouad, along with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour and Chair of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, held a meeting with Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, Nuria Sanz, and the accompanying delegation from the organization's regional office.
The meeting discussed possible means of cooperation to support the activities of The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO, and aimed to strengthen the partnership between the two parties, which will contribute to the conservation of natural resources, the protection of biological and cultural diversity, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Infrastructure and Ecotourism Development
The Environment Ministry has worked to re-introduce nature reserves by developing the reserves' infrastructure, including roads, administrative buildings, and information centers, said Minister Fouad in a meeting with representatives of the Marine Environment Protection Association on April 30, 2025.
She added that 93 trained environmental supervisors have been appointed across the Red Sea and South Sinai reserves.
Efforts have also been made to promote the reserves and create investment opportunities in the ecotourism sector, permitting the private sector to invest in locations within natural reserves where activities, such as diving and mountaineering, take place, Minister Fouad stated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Egypt Independent
8 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Red Sea safety boost: Egypt deploys shark tracking devices
Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad announced the success of the first mission in implementing a program to monitor and install satellite tracking devices on sharks in the Red Sea. The program was implemented by an Egyptian team comprising specialists from the Ministry, Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association (HEPCA), and the Chamber of Diving and Marine Activities, done in cooperation with the ministry's Hurghada Green Project and a French expert specialized in installing satellite tracking and monitoring devices on sharks. Fouad explained in a statement on Saturday that the team succeeded in installing nine tracking devices on the Oceanic Whitetip Tiger Shark in the areas of the Brother Islands & Elphinstone in Marsa Alam and the Shehr Reef in Safaga. Samples were also taken from targeted sharks during the scientific expedition to determine their genetic characteristics in the Red Sea. They collected 14 shark samples and photographed the dorsal fins of several Oceanic Whitetip Tiger Sharks. The goal was to compile a photo album of this species, which is characterized by the presence of distinct external markings on its fins, which can be used to distinguish between individuals. Fouad noted that Egypt is among the first countries within the Red Sea region to implement a shark monitoring and tracking program – including tiger sharks, mako sharks, and oceanic whitetip sharks. The Minister of Environment said that the program primarily aims to study the movement of sharks in the Red Sea basin, as sharks provide significant economic and environmental value. She commended the team's successful scientific mission, which included implementing the best environmentally sound methods for installing tracking devices, tagging the targeted sharks, and safely returning all tagged fish to the water. The team also conducted all tests on the devices and adjusted their satellite data reception signals, with detailed, and accurate data on the tagged fish to be transmitted within a year.
CairoScene
14 hours ago
- CairoScene
Egypt Launches Red Sea Shark Tracking Programme in Regional First
The Ministry of Environment launches the region's first shark satellite-tracking initiative in the Red Sea, aiming to boost marine safety, understand shark behaviour, and protect biodiversity. Jun 29, 2025 The Ministry of Environment has launched the region's first shark satellite-tracking program in the Red Sea. The initiative, rolled out by the Red Sea Reserves Sector, involves tagging sharks with satellite devices to study their seasonal behaviour, migratory routes, and patterns that might explain how they interact with humans. Officials say the program will help identify high-risk seasons - especially the April to July window associated with mating and feeding activity - and enable smarter, science-based decisions for marine management. The satellite tagging is being carried out by a team of Egyptian exoerts from the Environment Ministry, the Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association, and the Chamber of Diving and Marine Activities, in cooperation with a French specialist. The data collected will also support biodiversity protection efforts and contribute to more sustainable tourism strategies in coastal destinations like Hurghada and Marsa Alam.
Egypt Independent
14 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Environment Minister announces successful installation of tracking devices on sharks in Red Sea
Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad announced the success of the first mission in implementing a program to monitor and install satellite tracking devices on sharks in the Red Sea. The program was implemented by an Egyptian team comprising specialists from the Ministry, Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association (HEPCA), and the Chamber of Diving and Marine Activities, done in cooperation with the ministry's Hurghada Green Project and a French expert specialized in installing satellite tracking and monitoring devices on sharks. Fouad explained in a statement on Saturday that the team succeeded in installing nine tracking devices on the Oceanic Whitetip Tiger Shark in the areas of the Brother Islands & Elphinstone in Marsa Alam and the Shehr Reef in Safaga. Samples were also taken from targeted sharks during the scientific expedition to determine their genetic characteristics in the Red Sea. They collected 14 shark samples and photographed the dorsal fins of several Oceanic Whitetip Tiger Sharks. The goal was to compile a photo album of this species, which is characterized by the presence of distinct external markings on its fins, which can be used to distinguish between individuals. Fouad noted that Egypt is among the first countries within the Red Sea region to implement a shark monitoring and tracking program – including tiger sharks, mako sharks, and oceanic whitetip sharks. The Minister of Environment said that the program primarily aims to study the movement of sharks in the Red Sea basin, as sharks provide significant economic and environmental value. She commended the team's successful scientific mission, which included implementing the best environmentally sound methods for installing tracking devices, tagging the targeted sharks, and safely returning all tagged fish to the water. The team also conducted all tests on the devices and adjusted their satellite data reception signals, with detailed, and accurate data on the tagged fish to be transmitted within a year.
